“Iranian-born composer Reza Vali, a Carnegie Mellon University music professor, will travel to Iran with the Carpe Diem String Quartet of Ohio for the Fajr International Music Festival in February 2016,” writes Tom Fontaine in Sunday’s (4/19) Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “The plans for cultural diplomacy were announced as leaders from the United States and other world powers prepare to resume talks this week with Iran on its nuclear program.” Also traveling to Iran will be Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh-based American Middle East Institute. “Vali and Curtis said they began discussing the possibility with Iranian officials in October…. The sides reached a tentative deal last week. In addition to performing on its own, Carpe Diem is expected to play with the recently restored Tehran Symphony Orchestra…. The accord reached last week by Vali and Curtis follows a visit by Grammy Award-winning jazz performer Bob Belden and his group, Animation, to the annual Fajr festival early this year.… Curtis tried to arrange an Iranian trip last year for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its last performance in Iran. Logistical problems derailed the plan.”
Posted April 21, 2015
